Reimagining Singapore’s 21.5 km North-South Corridor as a new ‘life reserve’

A resilient, inclusive, and green corridor for the nation

Stretching across the island of Singapore, the North-South Corridor is a central piece of the city’s development. Transforming surface streets into a 21.5 km ‘life reserve,’ the design aims to redefine mobility and urban living in Singapore and offer lessons for cities around the world on how to build resilient, inclusive, and green communities.

Visualized as a corridor for the nation, Gehl is conducting Public Space Public Life surveys as part of the Community Engagement and Placemaking Strategy. As the Corridor runs through well-established communities, an inclusive engagement process will bring local communities and interested parties together to co-design key nodes along its 21.5 km stretch. Gehl aims to support the team by designing meaningful public spaces that cater to the needs of diverse communities, reflect local culture and heritage, and are easily adaptable to future changes in adjacent areas.

Designing for the human scale, these areas will offer interactive experiences complementing each neighborhood’s unique character. A new public square along Rochor Road will prioritize pedestrians, enhancing connectivity and social interaction in the city. This focal point will sit at the intersection of three neighborhoods: Little India, Kampong Gelam, and Albert Street, symbolizing the city’s cultural diversity.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Land Transport Authority (LTA) Singapore in Singapore, and to work alongside Henning Larsen and the entire team to deliver this ambitious project. At Gehl, we are deeply committed to people-first urban transformations. For the North-South Corridor project, we have crafted a strong vision and guiding principles that will bring the full 21.5 km to life. We’re excited to dive into the detailed work.”

Rasmus Duong-Grunnet, Project Director at Gehl